Television

MUMBAI: For the fourth consecutive year, Oprah Winfrey captures the number-one position as America's top favourite television personality. The survey was conducted by Harris Interactive.

In the 12 years that Harris Interactive has conducted this survey, Oprah has always been one of the top-three favourites. In fact, this is the sixth time she has been number one; in addition to this year, she topped the list in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2004.

Jon Stewart continues his rise to the top as he and David Letterman swap places this year; Stewart comes in at number two, while Letterman drops one spot to number three. Jay Leno, who consistently beat Letterman in the ratings game, has tied for number four spot with Fox News talk show host Bill O'Reilly, who was number eight last year. Ellen DeGeneres moves up one spot from number seven last year to number six this year.

These are the results of a nationwide Harris Poll of 960 US adults surveyed online between 8 to14 December, 2005 by Harris Interactive.

There are four new TV personalities who made it into the top-10 list this year, two for the first time and two from years past:

Conan O'Brien jumps onto the list for the first time at number seven, while George Lopez debuts at number nine.
Jerry Seinfeld makes a return to the list this year at number eight. He was last on the list in 2000.
Another sitcom star, Tim Allen, makes a return to the list. He last appeared in 1999 at number seven; this year he returns at number 10.

The four people who dropped off the list this year are Ray Romano (was number four last year), Bill Cosby (was number six), Dr. Phil McGraw (was tied for number nine) and Regis Philbin (was tied for number nine).

While Oprah Winfrey tops with women and adults aged 65 and over, David Letterman is No. 1 for men. Among adults aged 18 to 24, who are an important demographic to advertisers, Conan O'Brien is the most popular. Not surprisingly, Bill O'Reilly is tops among conservatives, while liberals choose Jon Stewart as their favourite.